Cellular phone line replacement adapter

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and system automatically process and route data messages or packets, via a cellular network, from analog or digital data devices, wherein the routing is accomplished without a need for voice call origination on the cellular network. The apparatus includes a fixed cellular communication device and may also include a fixed wireless RF communication device and/or a mobile wireless RF transceiver. The fixed cellular communication device formats and transmits, on a cellular network, data packets received from data devices directly connected to the fixed cellular communication device and/or data packets received wirelessly from the fixed wireless RF communication device and/or from the mobile wireless RF transceiver. The fixed cellular communication device has a physical form of an AC wall adapter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/193,461, filed Feb. 28, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/548,515, filed Oct. 11, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No.8,676,254 B2, issued Mar. 18, 2014. The entire disclosures of U.S.application Ser. Nos. 14/193,461 and Ser. No. 11/548,515 are herebyincorporated by reference herein. The present application claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/726,046, filed Oct. 12,2005, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fixed cellular communication devicefor transmitting data over a cellular communications network.

Description of Related Art

Traditionally, analog data devices such as security panels, alarmpanels, satellite set top boxes (STB), point of sale terminals (POS),credit card machines, remote data devices, telemetry devices, etc., usePlain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines for communication. However,with the widespread proliferation of cellular service, many POTS linesare being displaced by cellular service. In other cases, POTS lineavailability is non-existent. A signaling method used by these analogdata devices is typically accomplished using an analog modem, whichutilizes frequency-shift keying (FSK) or dual-tone multi-frequency(DTMF) at a low baud rate. In addition, a modem of an originating analogdata device requires an answering modem at the end, or called,communication point, which provides FSK tones for at least: handshaking,message termination, cyclic redundancy checks, etc. Analog data devices,by nature, send messages that are typically short in length and requirea return message from the answering or destination point. Furthermore, adial-tone and loop current must be provided by another device tosimulate a POTS line interface, which is typically required by theanalog data device. Due to the interface requirements of the modem inthe analog data device, direct connection to a cellular device isimpossible due to requirements of a dial-tone and a loop current, whichcannot be provided by the cellular device. In addition, a cellulardevice in the form of a fixed wireless terminal (FWT) or fixed wirelesscellular terminal (FCT) requires set-up command strings to set it in acorrect cellular transmission mode. While interfaces have been devisedto overcome these interface issues, the cellular device must stilloriginate a call on a cellular network, thereby invoking traditionalvoice rates from a serving cellular carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatedprocessing and routing of data messages or packets, via the cellularnetwork, from analog or digital data devices. The present inventioncomprises a fixed cellular communication device, a fixed wireless RadioFrequency (RF) communication device, and a mobile wireless RFtransceiver.

The fixed cellular communication device (dongle) comprises elements suchas, but not limited to: a cellular transceiver, a switched-mode powersupply, an analog modem, a wireless RF bi-directional communicationtransceiver, a subscriber line interface, an Ethernet port, a tonegenerator, a loop power supply, a Global Positioning System (GPS)receiver (optional), and a microcontroller with memory.

The fixed communication device may have multiple configurations and mayutilize any cellular communications network including, but not limitedto, Advanced Mobile Phone Service/Code Division Multiple Access(AMPS/CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Worldwide Interoperabilityfor Microwave Access (WiMAX). Integral to the cellular communicationdevice is a wireless RF transceiver that can provide a secure,point-to-point or point to multi-point, short range communications link.If needed, the integral RF communication link may utilize at least thefollowing wireless access methods: Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, WiMAX®,FHSS, DSSS, FM, FSK, AM, UWB or other wireless access methods. The RFcommunication link may be used for, but is not limited to, transmittingand receiving signals from another fixed remote wireless RFcommunication device connected to a data device, which may include atleast the following: a satellite set top box; a security panel; an alarmpanel; a telemetry device; a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition(SCADA) device; a POS terminal; a credit card machine; or a vendingmachine. The RF communication link may also be used to send and receivedata from a mobile, or nomadic, wireless RF transceiver.

A fixed cellular communication device connected to an RJ-11 modemcommunication jack of a data device recognizes when the data deviceattempts to communicate with another device or location. In addition,the fixed cellular communication device may utilize, as a secondarymeans of communication, a serial data port for communication with thedata device. Upon the initiation of communication by the data device,the fixed cellular communication device processes the data and forwardsit as a series of formatted circuit switched or packet switched datapacket(s) via a cellular network, to a central processing system withouta need for a voice call origination on the cellular network. The centralprocessing system re-formats the message into the original form sent bythe data device. This information or message can then be disseminated bythe central processing system to other points or systems. In addition,the fixed cellular communication device can receive messages from thecentral processing system via the cellular network. The received messageis re-formatted by the fixed cellular communication device into theoriginal message form and the message is sent to the data device thatoriginated the message to the central processing system. The fixedcellular communication device may also utilize a bi-directional,wireless RF link to communicate with other wireless RF communicationdevices that are within range, which are connected to a remote datadevice. In addition, the fixed cellular communication device can providea high speed, bi-directional Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)Internet Protocol (IP) data link via the cellular network, as yet athird means of communication with a data device.

Furthermore, the wireless RF link capability of the fixed cellularcommunication device can be used to communicate with a mobile wirelessRF device for the purpose of sending and receiving unique data orinformation to and from the mobile wireless RF device. Data from themobile wireless RF device can be sent over the cellular network to thecentral processing system via either the fixed cellular communicationdevice or a fixed wireless RF communication device acting as a repeaterto the mobile wireless RF device.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particularreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a fixed cellular communication devicein a physical form of an AC wall adapter according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the AC wall adapter according tothe present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the components of the fixed cellularcommunication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the components of a wireless RFcommunication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a mobile wireless RF transceiver.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram including the fixed cellular communicationdevice and a corresponding cell tower according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a fixed cellular communication device20 (see FIG. 3) according to the present invention. As visible from theview of FIG. 1, the fixed cellular communication device 20 is adapted ina physical form of an AC wall adapter 10 which includes a phone jack 12and an Ethernet jack 14.

FIG. 2 provides a rear view of the AC wall adapter 10 which essentiallyshows an AC plug, or AC input, 16. A user may connect the AC walladapter 10 into any AC outlet available. Once the fixed cellularcommunication device 20 is connected and supplied with power, the usermay use the various functions that are associated with the fixedcellular communication device 20 such as transmission of data over acellular network including modem transmissions and GPS datatransmissions. The fixed cellular communication device 20 enables theuser to use a mobile wireless RF transceiver 50 (see FIG. 5) or a fixedwireless RF communication device 30 (see FIG. 4) for transmission ofdata via the cellular network. One advantageous feature of the fixedcellular communication device 20 is its ability to transmit data informatted packets via the cellular network without the need for callorigination.

FIG. 3 shows an overview block diagram of the fixed cellularcommunication device 20 according to the present invention. Thecomponents within the cellular communication device 20 include Ethernettransceiver 29, subscriber line interface circuitry 28 connected to aninternal modem 27, and a serial data port 26. The Ethernet jack 14, thephone jack 12 and the serial data port 26 provide hardware connectionsfor various communication devices which may transmit and receivevoice/data through the cellular communication device 20. The subscriberline interface circuitry 28 provides a dial tone and loop voltage inorder to simulate a POTS line. Accordingly, the subscriber lineinterface circuitry 28 may be used to transmit voice signals and datasignals through the internal modem 27. The Ethernet transceiver 29includes provisions for 10 Base T, CAT-5 bi-directional data, whichsupports data services via a cellular network.

Other components shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3 include: cellulartransceiver 25 and antenna 25 a; GPS receiver 24 and antenna 24 a; andsecondary RF transceiver 23 and antenna 23 a. The secondary RFtransceiver 23 provides a non-cellular communication link forpoint-to-point or point to multi-point communications with either fixedor mobile devices. The secondary RF transceiver 23 also utilizes areceived signal strength indicator (RSSI) to determine the distance froma mobile device. Furthermore, the secondary RF transceiver provides anon-cellular communication link for the purpose of sending and receivingdata initiated from another fixed or mobile device. The GPS receiver 24assists in the transmission of position or location data over thecellular network. The cellular transceiver 25 advantageously allows forthe sending and receiving of data in the form of short data packets overa cellular network. The transmission of these packets of either voice ordata information may be sent without the need for call origination onthe cellular network.

The fixed cellular communication device 20 also includes a switched-modepower supply 21 which receives power through the AC input 16, 120 VAC 60Hz, and distributes voltage in three different modes as shown, 5 VDC,3.3 VDC and 48 VDC. A microcontroller 22 controls the various componentsshown in the block diagram (see FIG. 3) of the fixed cellularcommunication device 20. In one embodiment, the microcontroller 22 is amodel PIC 18F6620 microcontroller manufactured by Microchip Technology,Inc., of Chandler, Ariz. Input and output functions are shown for theEthernet transceiver 29, the internal modem 27, the cellular transceiver25, the GPS receiver 24 and the secondary RF transceiver 23. Controlfunctions are also shown for the aforesaid components of the fixedcellular communication device 20 and for the switched-mode power supply21.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the wireless RF communication device 30.The wireless RF communication device 30 includes essentially all thecomponents as depicted in the fixed cellular communication device 20,excluding a cellular transceiver. Accordingly, the wireless RFcommunication device 30 includes a microcontroller 32; a secondary RFtransceiver 33 and antenna 33 a; a GPS receiver 34 and antenna 34 a; aserial data port 36; a line interface circuitry 38, including a RJ-11phone jack, connected to an internal modem 37; an Ethernet transceiver39 including an Ethernet jack; and a switched-mode power supply 31. Thewireless RF communication device 30 may transmit data via the secondaryRF transceiver 33 to the fixed cellular communication device 20 via thesecondary RF transceiver 23. The Ethernet jack, the RJ-11 phone jack,and the serial data port 36 provide a means for hardware to be connectedto the wireless RF communication device 30. Wireless communications maybe transmitted via the secondary RF transceiver 33 and GPS receiver 34.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the mobile wireless RF transceiver 50which includes a microcontroller 52, a RF transceiver module 51, abattery 54 and an antenna 51 a. The mobile wireless RF transceiver 50may easily access a cellular network via the fixed cellularcommunication device 20 by transmitting non-cellular RF signals to thesecondary RF transceiver 23 of the fixed cellular communication device.With the mobile wireless RF transceiver 50, a user may access thecellular network via the fixed cellular communication device 20 asopposed to transmitting voice or data directly to a cellular basestation (not shown). Also, the mobile wireless RF transceiver 50 mayadvantageously transmit through the fixed wireless RF communicationdevice 30 where data is relayed to the fixed cellular communicationdevice 20. The mobile wireless RF transceiver 50 includes a receivedsignal strength measurement capability for the purpose of measuringdistance between it and the fixed wireless RF communication device 30 orthe fixed cellular communication device 20.

FIG. 6 shows a system overview according to the present invention. Asshown in the system overview, the fixed cellular communication device 20transmits signals to a cell tower 60 in order to access a cellularnetwork. Shown and connected to the fixed cellular communication device20 are a data device 43 and an analog data device 45 where the analogdata device is connected to the phone jack 12 and the data device isconnected the Ethernet jack 14. Communications between the fixedwireless RF communication device 30 and the fixed cellular communicationdevice 20 are achieved through antenna 33 a and antenna 23 a. The fixedcellular communication device 20 accesses the cellular network throughthe cell tower 60. Signals are transmitted from the fixed cellularcommunication device 20 through antenna 25 a to cell tower 60. Signalsfrom the fixed wireless RF communication device 30 or the mobilewireless RF device 50 may be formatted and reformatted for subsequenttransmission in the form of short data packets via the cellular network.The system enables the fixed cellular communication device 20 totranslate data messages from one format to another. Furthermore, thefixed cellular communication device 20 may be polled or queried via thecellular network. The fixed cellular communication device 20 may includea link mobile identification number (MIN) and an electronic serialnumber (ESN) or an international mobile equipment identifier (IMEI).These identifying identifiers may be transmitted via the cellularnetwork. Furthermore, the fixed cellular communication device 20 may beaccessed and programmed via the cellular network.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication device, comprising: a cellulartransceiver that transmits and receives data on a cellular network viadata packets; a non-cellular RF transceiver for receiving signals from anon-cellular RF device that is external to the communication device,wherein the cellular transceiver re-transmits on the cellular networkdata packets received by the non-cellular RF transceiver from thenon-cellular RF device; and a microcontroller for controllingtransmission of data through the communication device, wherein thecommunication device is adapted in a physical form of an AC wall adapterthat includes an Ethernet jack.
 2. The communication device according toclaim 1, further comprising a data device, wherein, upon initiation ofcommunication by the data device, the communication device processes thedata and forwards the data on to the cellular network, via the cellulartransceiver, as a series of data packets.
 3. The communication deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising a port for communication withthe data device.
 4. The communication device according to claim 1,further comprising a GPS receiver, wherein the GPS receiver providespositional data for transmission, by the cellular transceiver, over thecellular network.
 5. The communication device according to claim 1,further comprising: an Ethernet transceiver coupled to the Ethernetjack, wherein the Ethernet jack provides a means for connecting a datadevice to the communication device and wherein the Ethernet transceiverincludes provisions for CAT-5 bi-directional data, wherein thecommunication device processes data received from the data device, andwherein the cellular transceiver transmits said data as a series offormatted data packets on the cellular network; and subscriber lineinterface circuitry including a means to connect an analog modem deviceto the communication device wherein the subscriber line interfacecircuitry provides a dial tone and loop voltage.
 6. The communicationdevice according to claim 5, wherein the AC wall adapter includes an ACplug on a first side of the AC wall adapter and the Ethernet jack on oneor more sides of the AC wall adapter other than the first side.
 7. Thecommunication device of claim 6, wherein the Ethernet jack is on a sideopposite the first side.
 8. The communication device of claim 6, whereinthe AC plug is adapted to plug into an AC power outlet.
 9. Thecommunication device of claim 6, including a power supply for supplyingDC power to components of the communication device, and wherein theEthernet jack is coupled to the Ethernet transceiver, and the AC plug iscoupled to the power supply.
 10. The communication device according toclaim 5, further comprising an analog modem device connected to thesubscriber line interface circuitry.
 11. The communication deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller includes memorystorage means, and means to format data transmitted via the cellularnetwork.
 12. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein thenon-cellular RF transceiver includes at least one of a WiFi transceiver,a Bluetooth transceiver and a ZigBee transceiver.
 13. The communicationdevice according to claim 11, wherein, prior to re-transmission by thecellular transceiver, the signals received by the non-cellular RFtransceiver from the non-cellular RF device are reformatted by thecommunications device into a series of data packets.
 14. Thecommunication device according to claim 13, wherein, the data packetsare packet-switched data packets.
 15. The communication device accordingto claim 5, further comprising a port for receiving the data from thedata device, wherein the communication device processes data receivedfrom the data device, and wherein the cellular transceiver transmitssaid data as a series of formatted data packets on the cellular network.16. A system, comprising: a fixed communication device including acellular transceiver, a secondary RF transceiver, subscriber lineinterface circuitry, an Ethernet transceiver including an Ethernetconnection, and a microcontroller, wherein the cellular transceivertransmits data on a cellular network, wherein the microcontrollercontrols transmission of data, and wherein the secondary RF transceiverprovides a non-cellular communication link with non-cellular devices;and a data device coupled to the fixed communication device via theEthernet connection, wherein the cellular transceiver transmits, via thecellular network, data received from the data device on the cellularnetwork, and wherein, upon initiation of communication by the datadevice, the fixed communication device processes the data and forwardsthe data as a series of data packets, wherein the fixed communicationdevice is shaped as an AC wall adapter.
 17. The system according toclaim 16, further comprising: a non-cellular RF communication deviceincluding a secondary RF transceiver, subscriber line interfacecircuitry, an Ethernet transceiver, and a microcontroller, wherein thenon-cellular RF communication device indirectly transmits and receivesdata over the cellular network, wherein such data is relayed through thefixed communication device, wherein the secondary RF transceiver of thenon-cellular RF communication device transmits and receives data withthe secondary RF transceiver of the fixed communication device, andwherein the microcontroller provides a means for controlling datatransmissions between the fixed communication device and thenon-cellular RF communication device; and a second data device, coupledto the non-cellular RF communication device, wherein the second datadevice transmits and receives data via the non-cellular RF communicationdevice for transmission over the cellular network by the fixedcommunication device.
 18. The system according to claim 16, including adata device connected to the fixed communication device, wherein thecellular transceiver transmits, via the cellular network, data receivedfrom the data device.
 19. The system according to claim 16, wherein thesecondary RF transceiver includes at least one of a 802.11a/b/g/n WiFitransceiver, a 802.15.4 ZigBee transceiver and a 802.15.1 Bluetoothtransceiver.
 20. The system according to claim 16, including a mobilenon-cellular RF transceiver that includes a RF transceiver module fortransmitting and receiving data with the secondary RF transceiver of thefixed communication device, wherein the mobile non-cellular RFtransceiver transmits and receives data via the fixed communicationdevice over the cellular network.
 21. The system of claim 16, whereinthe AC wall adapter includes an AC plug and an Ethernet jack, whereinthe AC plug is adapted to plug into an AC power outlet.
 22. The systemof claim 21, wherein the AC plug is on a first side of the AC walladapter and the Ethernet jack are on one or more sides of the AC walladapter other than the first side.
 23. The system of claim 22, whereinthe Ethernet jack is on a side opposite the first side.
 24. The systemof claim 23, wherein the fixed communications device includes a powersupply and wherein the AC plug is coupled to the power supply and theEthernet jack is coupled to the Ethernet transceiver.
 25. Acommunication device, comprising: a cellular transceiver thatcommunicates data on a cellular network via data packets; a secondary RFtransceiver for wireless non-cellular communication of data with anon-cellular device; an Ethernet transceiver for coupling to a datadevice; and a microcontroller for controlling transmission of datathrough the communication device, wherein, upon initiation ofcommunication of data by one of the non-cellular device and the datadevice, the communication device processes the data and forwards thedata on to the cellular network, via the cellular transceiver, as aseries of data packets, and wherein the communication device has a shapeof an AC wall adapter.
 26. The communication device of claim 25,including: a modem; and subscriber line interface circuitry, coupled tothe modem, the subscriber line interface circuitry for coupling to adata device.
 27. The communication device of claim 26, wherein thecommunication device includes an Ethernet jack coupled to the Ethernettransceiver.
 28. The communication device of claim 27, wherein the ACwall adapter includes an AC plug on a first side, and includes, on oneor more sides other than the first side, the Ethernet jack.
 29. Thecommunication device of claim 28, wherein the Ethernet jack is on a sideopposite the first side.
 30. The communication device of claim 29,wherein the, wherein the AC plug is adapted to plug into an AC poweroutlet.
 31. The communication device of claim 30, including a powersupply for supplying DC power to components of the communication device,and wherein the AC plug is coupled to the power supply.
 32. Thecommunication device of claim 25, wherein transmission of the datapackets takes place without voice call origination on the cellularnetwork.